The Palm Springs International Film Awards Gala is always an exciting and grand event. This year marked its 36th edition, with the 20th hosted by the tireless Mary Hart, who keeps the momentum going—there’s no pause for conversation or dinner, as attendees eat while applauding the numerous stars and distinguished presenters who award them their distinctive statuettes.

The honorees are consistently drawn from the top tier of Oscar contenders. As the awards season accelerates with ceremonies like the Golden Globes approaching, every individual recognized at Friday night’s PSIFF Awards Gala will be seen in formal wear on the red carpet at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday. This event serves as a precursor, allowing winners to practice their heartfelt and humorous speeches, which we can expect to hear variations of throughout the season, especially from those fortunate enough to reach the Dolby Theatre in March. Buckle up!

Palm Springs possesses a unique charm amidst its extravagance, and given the display of wealth, I was surprised to find it was “black tie optional.” Few attendees at the expansive Palm Springs Convention Center opted for casual attire. Unlike other awards ceremonies this season, this event features a full orchestra that plays music associated with each winner, starting with Hart, who entered to the iconic theme from Entertainment Tonight (where I also had the pleasure of working with her during the show’s early years). The stage is enormous, reminiscent of a football stadium, necessitating comfortable footwear to traverse it. The massive screen, larger than IMAX, displays three identical images of whoever holds the microphone, whether presenter or recipient, due to the venue’s size and crowd.

Before the stars arrive, they navigate a gauntlet of applauding, well-dressed attendees lining the red carpet, through the lobby, and into the ballroom, finally reaching studio-purchased tables located centrally rather than upfront. The first eight rows closest to the stage are reserved for long-time supporters and high rollers, a category in which Palm Springs has plenty.

The honorees, all of whom must attend in person, included Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Actress, Anora), Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Actor, A Real Pain), Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Sing Sing), Ariana Grande (Rising Star, Wicked), the cast of Conclave (Ensemble Performance), Nicole Kidman (International Star, Babygirl), Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Actor Award, The Brutalist), Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Actress Award, Maria), Timothée Chalamet (Chairman’s Award, A Complete Unknown), the cast of Emilia Pérez and director Jacques Audiard (Vanguard Award), and Denis Villeneuve (Visionary Award) for Dune: Part Two. Notably, the Gala organizers have retired the original name of the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, named after the festival’s founder when he was mayor.

I was pleased to be seated at one of two Netflix tables, 806, alongside Jolie, her daughter Zahara, and her presenter, the legendary Jacqueline Bisset. When I asked Jolie about her past experiences at this event, she mentioned it was so long ago that it was all a blur. I recalled a time when she arrived at her table (with Brad Pitt) surrounded by a flurry of camera flashes, a true spectacle of stardom. I shared this memory with her, and she simply smiled, as if to say, “Just another day at work.”

Jolie is truly deserving of any accolades this year for her portrayal of Maria Callas in a challenging and rewarding role. In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to explore her creativity: “Thank you for giving space for my madness, for this and for Maria, for allowing me to have a voice and to find mine again.” Bisset, attending the gala for the first time, is Jolie’s godmother, a fact I was unaware of. Jolie shared that Bisset and her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, were close friends, and her mother chose Bisset as a role model for her daughter.

I also visited the Emilia Pérez table nearby. Selena Gomez is now a seasoned attendee at such events, while Karla Sofía Gascón found it all new, and surprisingly, so did Zoe Saldaña, who inquired if this is what awards season is typically like. I explained that this year, post-pandemic and strikes, feels like a return to normalcy. “That’s good,” Saldaña responded. “Because this is my first time, and I want it to be great.” Co-star Edgar Ramirez was present, and Audiard joined shortly before their award presentation, delivering a charming acceptance speech entirely in French.

Each speech was memorable in its own way. Madison, new to the awards circuit, reflected on her past roles, including a “masked psycho killer” and a “deranged 1960s hippie,” which shaped her performance as a sex worker seeking a future in Anora. In contrast, veterans like Kidman (accepting her fourth PSIFF award) became emotional while discussing her mother’s recent passing, a loss she learned of while premiering Babygirl in Venice. This was her first opportunity to publicly address it, making it a poignant moment.

Presenters included Sharon Stone, Jamie Lee Curtis, Demi Moore, Amy Adams, Andrew Garfield, and Gary Oldman. Some, like Chalamet and Isabella Rossellini, took on dual roles, presenting awards while also participating in the ensemble presentation for Conclave, which director Edward Berger awarded to her and co-stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, John Lithgow, and Carlos Diehz. Stone reminisced about portraying Culkin’s mother in A Mighty Heart, while Culkin, a recent Emmy winner for Succession, marveled at receiving a “Breakthrough Actor” award at age 42, 35 years after his debut.

Domingo, the only returning honoree from last year, delivered an authentic acceptance speech, as did Chalamet, who, not yet 30, showed respect to his presenter Oldman and those he admires while carving his own path in the industry. Grande, receiving her Rising Star award, humorously followed her presenter Jennifer Coolidge, managing to deliver a funny and heartfelt acceptance. “I’ve been performing since I was a child, so I never thought at the age of 31 I’d be hearing the words rising star again. So I want to thank my good friends Botox and Juvederm,” she joked.

Overall, this event marked a fantastic kickoff to the new year and the final two-month countdown to the Oscars, a time when contenders begin receiving and giving awards while continuing their campaigns. It’s that time of year, folks. See you at the Globes on Sunday!

Person: Mary Hart, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin, Colman Domingo, Ariana Grande, Nicole Kidman, Adrien Brody, Angelina Jolie, Timothée Chalamet, Jacques Audiard, Denis Villeneuve, Zahara Jolie, Jacqueline Bisset, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Edgar Ramirez, Sharon Stone, Jamie Lee Curtis, Demi Moore, Amy Adams, Andrew Garfield, Gary Oldman, Isabella Rossellini, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Lucian Msamati, John Lithgow, Carlos Diehz, Jennifer Coolidge

Company Names: Netflix

Titles: Palm Springs International Film Awards, Anora, A Real Pain, Sing Sing, Wicked, Babygirl, The Brutalist, Maria, A Complete Unknown, Emilia Pérez, Dune: Part Two, A Mighty Heart, Succession

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